Events and trends
The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. Many of the trends of the 1960s were due to the demographic changes brought about by the baby boom generation and the dissolution of European colonial empires. (See The Sixties.)
Technology
Science
War, peace and politics
- Cultural Revolution in mainland China causes political and economic chaos.
- Nigerian Civil War begins
- Six-Day War between Israelis and Arabs.
- Beginning of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
- Berlin Wall built, in 1961
- Bay of Pigs Invasion
- Civil rights movement in the United States; end of official segregation and disenfranchisement of African-Americans
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- The Vietnam War and protests, leading to Kent State University shootings in May, 1970
- Suppression of uprising in Czechoslovakia
- The Stonewall Riots in New York City give birth to the gay rights movement, June 1969
- United Nations imposes sanctions against South Africa in protest at Apartheid.
- Students protesting perceived problems with the status-quo are suppressed with violence by police and soldiers in USA, France, Mexico, Czechoslovakia. See New Left.
- The Quiet Revolution (Révolution tranquille) begins in Quebec - precipitous decline of the Roman Catholic church, liberalism, social-democratic programs, and the birth of modern Quebec nationalism
- The rise of radical feminism
Economics
Culture
- Worldwide expansion of surrealism.
- Rock and roll develops, diversifies, and becomes very hip. The Beatles eclipse Elvis Presley and become the biggest band in the world.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey hits movie theaters.
- James Bond movies begin. Dr. No is the first of the series in 1962, starring Sean Connery as Bond.
- Hippies, drug culture & rock and roll converge at the Woodstock festival, 1969.
- In the West, the growing popularity of religions other than Christianity (for example, as discussed in the writings of Alan Watts), and of atheism; Time Magazine asks: "Is God Dead?" See Fourth Great Awakening, Consciousness Revolution
- Memorable expositions, or "World's Fairs," are held in Seattle (1962), New York (1964/1965), Montreal (1967) and San Antonio (1968)
Others
People
World leaders
Writers and intellectuals
Sports figures
Entertainers
Other
See Also
List of rock and roll albums in the 1960s
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